Seahorses Want to Finish Business In Playoffs

By Elio Velez

QB Emmanuel Green (background) hands off the ball to RB Lawrence Whitehead as FB Devon Bryan (24) blocks on the play. Photos By Elio Velez.
Unfinished Business. That is the motto that new head coach Anthony Miele has implemented for his Far Rockaway Varsity Football team this year.

The quest for the playoffs began last week with two practices per day as Miele implored his team to run hard, especially in one instance to sophomore Shaun Wheeler.

“Come on Shaun, move! Get your legs up. You got to get in shape!” Miele said.

The Seahorses offensive line practices on the sled.
Getting in shape is one requirement that the team must have to compete this season for the playoffs. The Seahorses started strong with a 4-0 record before losing 4 of their last 5 games to finish with a 5-4 record. The team lost important divisional games to August Martin and Beach Channel and backdoored into the playoffs and was walloped by eventual PSAL champion Tottenville 42-6 in the first round.

Miele had adjusted quickly to the head-coaching job after replacing Les Sabbah in early March. He is very confident about the outlook on his team. Far Rockaway only lost three seniors from the 2003 team and returns many talented players at the important skills positions.

All Queens player QB Chris Howard will lead the offense. “Chris gained seven pounds and has worked out hard this year. He needs to step up to be a better leader”, Miele said. “He can pass and he can run the ball very well.”

“I think James (Wide receiver James Romain) in my opinion is one of the best players in the city. I think Ricky (Ricardo Remy) is one of the best players in the city”, says Miele. “In the Tottenville game, he was dominant in the first half with 3 or 4 sacks.

Far Rockaway head coach Anthony Miele (Top Photo:talking to his team as Assistant Head Coach Ken Hernandez to his right looks on) displays the team motto “Unfinished Business” on his t-shirt as tthe team begins a running drill.
Miele is looking to develop the offensive and defenseive line and strengthen a running game that looks promising early on.

“An addition like (RB) Devon Bryan and with Lawrence (Whitehead), is going to be a major plus in the backfield because we’re going to establish the run this year”, Miele said.

“Lawrence has the quickness. He is the toughest runner and he might be one of the best runners we have on the team overall”.

Ken Hernandez, assistant head coach and offensive and defensive line coach, stresses the importance in protection for his team to possibly repeat the 30-point per game average they scored last year.

“We have a lot of good backs. For them to be successful, we’re going to have to develop the line. A lot of kids are back. We want to develop some depth behind our starters and stretch the ball”, Hernandez said.

Confidence is what Wide Receiver Shiloh Brown believes that Miele has instilled from the first spring practices.

“Coach Miele is great and he is tough. He expects a lot of us last year and constantly tells us to keep picking our game up”, Brown said. “He is a great addition for us”.

Miele will work with a roster of 30 players in camp and expects to add additions once school begins. Though early, Miele has emphasized to his team on what they must do to win.

“We’re going to run to open up the pass and pass to open up the run. We’re going to do what is needed to win. Last year we didn’t establish the run against the better teams”.